Curb proximity signaling device



April 15, 1952 5, 055 2,592,742

CURB PROXIMITY SIGNALING DEVICE Filed July 18 1950 INVENTOR.

By 590/7055. Pas:

Patented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a signalling device for automotive vehicles, which indicates the degree of proximity of the vehicle to curbs or other similar obstructions.

An object of this invention is to provide a club proximity signalling device which is actuable in response -to-contact with a curb from all directions.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a curb proximity signalling device which is particularly adapted to withstand relatively large strainsand deformations due to the application of distorting forces, and to return to functional normality upon the removal of said forces.

A further object of this invention is to provide a proximity signalling device which is relatively simple in structure and cheap to manufacture.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon a consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompaying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the curb proximity signalling device of the present invention, shown supported contiguous to the rear wheels of an automobile and in engagement with an adjacent curb;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the curb proximity signalling device of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram for one form of installation of the curb proximity signalling device of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, there is shown the curb proximity signalling device of the present invention, generally designatedby the reference numeral I0, which includes a cylindrical housing II fabricated of electrically conductive material and having one end closed by an end wall 9 and having the other end open.

Disposed within the housing II contiguous to the closed end thereof and supported on the latter is a fixed contact, generally designated by the reference numeral I2. The fixed contact I2 embodies an insulating sleeve I3 which is extended through an' aperture I4 provided in the closed end of the housing II. Abutting against the exterior face-of-the. closed end of the housing II is a first washer I5 fabricated of an insulating material. Overlying and abutting against'the washer I5 is a contact element I6 which is provided with a lead wire I I. Disposed interiorly of the housing'l I is a cup-shaped contact element I8 which has its open'mouth facing toward the open end of the housing I I and has its bottom I9 abutting against the adjacent inner face of the closed end of the housing I I. Disposed intermediate the bottom I9 of the contact element I8 and the closed end of the housing II is a second washer 2D fabricated of an insulating material. Extending through the insulating sleeve I3 is a rivet 22 which has one end crimped and bearing against the bottom I 9 of the contact element I8, and has its other end crimped and bearing against the contact IS. The rivet 22 fixedly secures the assembly of the washers I4 and 20, the contact I6, and the cup-shaped contact element I8 to the end wall 9 of the cylindrical housing II. It is to be noted that the rivet 22, the contact element I8 and the contact I6 are electrically connected to each other and effectively insulated from the housing I I.

Disposed transversely of the housing II contiguous to and spacedfrom the open end thereof is a support 23 which is fabricated of an electrically conductive material and is in the form of a cylindrical member having an end wall provided with a centrally disposed aperture 24. Mounted on the support 23 is a movable contact 25 which is supported for pivotal movement relative to the support. The movable contact 25 embodies a metal rod 26 extending through the opening 24 in the support 23 and having one end received in the fixed contact element I8 while its other end projects exteriorly of the open end of the housing II. Pivotal movement of the rod 26 relative to the support moves the corresponding end of the rod into and out of electrically conductive contact with the fixed support at random positions around the latter. Circumposed about and supported on the interiorly projecting end of the rod 26 is a contact cap 2'! which is provided at one end with an annular flange 28 disposed between the support 23 and the fixed contact element I8.

Positioned exteriorly of the housing I I and supported on the projecting end of the rod 26 is a feeler, generally designated by the reference numeral 30. The feeler is supported by means of a sleeve (H which has one endcircumposed about and secured to a projecting end of the rod 26. The end of the sleeve 3| contiguous to the support 23 is provided'with anannular abutment 32 which bears against the adjacent side of the support.

A compression spring 29 surrounds the rod 26 between the flange or shoulder 28 and the support and resiliently presses the abutment shoulder 32 against the support. This spring resiliently centers the movable contact rod 26 in the fixed contact element l8 but provides for resiliently resisted freedom of pivotal movement of the rod relative to the support 23.

The feeler element 30 embodies a helical coil spring 33 of resilient wire, a wire 33' extending through the coil spring and connected at one end to the corresponding end of the spring, and a metal ball 34 secured on the other end of the wire and constituting an abutment for the adjacent end of the spring.

At the end thereof remote from the ball 3d the spring is secured in the sleeve 3| at the'outer end of the rod 26 and extends from this end of the rod substantially in longitudinal alignment with the rod.

Circumposed about the sleeve 3i is a flexible open-ended bellows, generally designated by the reference numeral 35, which has one open end embracingly engaging the sleeve 3|, and has its other open end circumposed about and supported upon the housing H. The bellows 35 is fabricated of a natural or synthetic rubber material and embodies a pair of open-ended sleeves 36 and 31 disposed in end-to-end spaced relation with respect to each other and interconnected by a corrugated connecting sleeve 38.

The conductor housing II is provided with a ground wire 39, and is provided with any suitable clamp means, generally designated by the reference numeral 40 for dependingly securing 'the curb proximity signalling device to an automobile contiguous to the front and rear wheels thereof.

Referring now with particularity to Figure 5, there is shown a wiring diagram for one form of installation of the device of the present invention. The lead wire l! of a pair of curb .proximity signalling devices, constructed according to the force is applied to the feeler 30, the contact cap 27 of the movable contact 25 is urged into contacting relation with respect to the conductive rivet 22 of the fixed contact l2, whereupon an electrical circuit is completed through the contact 16, the rivet 22, the conductive rod 27, the conductive support 28, the conductive housing H, and the ground wire 39. In the event that the rod 26 of the movable contact 25 is moved transversely of the housing II, and electrical circuit is completed through the contact IS, the rivet 22, the cup-shaped contact element IS, the conductive rod, the conductive support 23, the conductive housing II, and the ground wire 39. Although only one embodiment of the curb proximity signalling device of the present invention has been described, it is readily apparent that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A switch for curb proximity signalling apparatus for an automobile comprising a hollow housing adapted to be mounted on an automobile fender and having one end open and an apertured end wall closing its other end, a cup-shaped fixed contact element disposed within said housing adjacent said end wall and electrically insulated from the latter, means extending through the aperture in said end wall securing said fixed contact element to said end wall and providing an electrical conductor leading from said fixed contact element, an apertured support secured in said housing between said fixed contact and the open end of the housing, a movable contact element extending through the aperture in said support and having one end received in said fixed contact element, means acting between said movable contact element and said support resiliently centering said one end of said movable contact element relative to said fixed contact element but providing resiliently resisted freedom of pivotal movement of said movable contact element relative to said support for contact of said one end of said movable contact element with said fixed contact element at random positions around the latter, and a flexible feeler secured at one end to said movable contact element at the other end of the latter and extending longitudinally from said movable contact element to impart pivotal movement to said movable contact element upon engagement of said feeler with a curb.

2. A switch for curb proximity signalling apparatus for an automobile comprising a hollow housing adapted to be mounted on an automobile fender and having one end open and an apertured end wall closing its other end, a cup shaped fixed contact element disposed within said housing adjacent said end wall and electrically insulated from the latter, means extending through the aperture in said end wall securing said fixed contact element to said end wall and providing an electrical conductor leading from said fixed contact element, an apertured support secured in said housing between said fixed contact and the open end of the housing, a movable contact element extending through the aperture in said support and having one end received in said fixed contact element, means acting between said movable contact element and said support resiliently centering said one end of said movable contact element relative to said fixed contact element but providing resiliently resisted freedom of pivotal movement of said movable contact element relative to said support for contact of said one end of said movable contact element with'said fixed contact element at random positions around the latter, and a flexible feeler secured at one end to said movable contact element at the other end of the latter and extending longitudinally from said movable contact element to impart pivotal movement to said movable contact element upon engagement of said feeler with a curb, said movable contact element, said support and said housing being formed of electrically conductive material.

3. A switch for curb proximity signalling ap paratus for an automobile comprising a hollow housing adapted to be mounted on an automobile fender and having one end open and an apertured end wall closing its other end, a cup shaped fixed contact element disposed within said housing adjacent said end wall and electrically insulated from the latter, means extending through the aperture in said end wall securing said fixed contact element to said end wall and providing an electrical conductor leading from said fixed contact element, an apertured support secured in said housing between said fixed contact and the open end of the housing, a movable contact element extending through the aperture in said support and having one end received in said fixed contact element, means acting between said movable contact element and said support resiliently centering said one end of said movable contact element relative to said fixed contact element but providing resiliently resisted freedom of pivotal movement of said movable contact element relative to said support for contact of said one end of said movable contact element with said fixed contact element at random positions around the latter, a flexible feeler secured at one end to said movable contact element at the other end of the latter and extending longitudinally from said movable contact element to impart pivotal movement to said movable contact element upon engagement of said feeler with a curb, and a boot of flexible material secured to said housing at the open end of the latter and receiving said movable contact element at a location spaced outwardly from the open end of said housing to provide a closure between said movable contact element and the open end of said housing.

4. A switch for curb proximity signalling apparatus for an automobile comprising a hollow housing adapted to be mounted on an automobile fender and having one end open and an apertured end wall closing its other end, a cup shaped fixed contact element disposed with said housing adjacent said end wall and electrically insulated from the latter, means extending through the aperture in said end wall securing said fixed contact element to said end wall and providing an electrical conductor leading from said fixed contact element, an apertured support secured in said housing between said fixed contact element and the open end of said housing, a rod extend ing through the aperture in said support and having one end received in said fixed contact element to constitute a movable contact element, means providing a first annular shoulder on said rod between said fixed contact element and said support, means providing a second annular shoulder on said rod at the side of said support remote from said fixed contact element, a compression spring surrounding said rod between said first annular shoulder and said support resiliently pressing said second annular shoulder against said support to resiliently center said one end of said rod in said fixed contact element while providing resiliently resisted freedom of pivotal movement of said rod relative to said support for contact of said one end of said rod with said fixed contact element at random positions around the latter, and a flexible feeder secured at one end to said rod at the other end of the latter and extending longitudinally from said rod to impart pivotal movement to said rod relative to said support upon engagement of said ieeler with a curb.

5. A switch for curb proximity signalling apparatus for an automobile comprising a hollow housing adapted to be mounted on an automobile fender and having one end open and an apertured end wall closing its other end, a cup shaped fixed contact element disposed within said housing adjacent said end wall and electrically insulated from the latter, means extending through the aperture in said end wall securing said fixed contact element to said end wall and providing an electrical conductor leading from said fixed contact element, an apertured support secured in said housing between said fixed contact and the open end of the housing, a movable contact element extending through the aperture in said support and having one end received in said fixed contact element, means acting between said movable contact element and said support resiliently centering said one end of said movable contact element relative to said fixed contact element but providing resiliently resisted freedom of pivotal movement of said movable contact element relative to said support for contact of said one end of said movable contact element with said fixed contact element at random positions around the latter, and a flexible feeler secured at one end to said movable contact element at the other end of the latter and extending longitudinally from said movable contact element to impart pivotal movement to said movable contact element upon engagement of said feeler with a curb, said flexible feeler comprising an elongated coil spring, a wire extending through said spring and connected at one end to the corresponding end of said spring, and a ball secured on the other end of said wire and constituting an abutment for the adjacent end of said spring.

ARCHIE B. ROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,893,371 Knowlton Jan, 3, 1933 2,487,922 De Chant et al Nov. 15, 1949 2,518,065 Reilley et al. Aug. 8, 1950 

